By John Fullilove, jacksons.tv
jacksons.tv: Can you describe the event that is coming up on June 5th?
Ricky Kottenstette: We will be holding the First Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts Series. The Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts Series was started to give opportunities for our fighters to compete. Out fighters are very important for us. We have worked with a lot of different promotions around the state and we
have not found the proper way to get our fighters treated – with that being said, that’s the business we’re in, getting our fighters fights. This new promotion and organization is basically the minor leagues of the big organizations such as the UFC and WEC. We are looking to start locally here in Albuquerque, like the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Baseball Team) are to the Los Angeles Dodgers, as a farm team. We are looking to have an organization in which our fighters can have high quality opponents, so that hey can move to the next level and be successful. For example, like on this season of the Ultimate Fighter, a Jackson Fighter – Kyle Noke. He is an example of the level of fighter that you will see for the Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts Series. You will have an opportunity to see this type of fighter and talent before they break into the next level.
jacksons.tv: Who is the team you have in place to put on the show?
Ricky Kottenstette: We have quite a few sponsors that are stepping up to the plate. We have a great team in-house that has been helping us out. We have the best match maker in the Southwest, Dickie Chavez. We also have John Fullilove and Emmit
Hamilton working on the website and doing our live streaming that’s going to be really cool. I also have Sal Mora who is helping out with content for the site and event. The cool part is that this is the first time we have actually have had a team of individuals that have come together with the same goal of promoting the gym and what Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn have done. I couldn’t do this without all the help that I am receiving. The cool part about the web streaming is that it’s something you will be able to see all around the world. It’s an opportunity to see what Jackson’s has and what Mr. Winkeljohn’s is helping to produce in terms of fighters. You will be able to watch it internationally. You will be able to stream it live from our site and you will be able to watch it live and experience the event if you can’t make it down here. It’s only a 2,500 seat arena and it will sell out fast, obviously. A lot of people will be forced to watch it online.
jacksons.tv: Can you talk about the partner you have for the venue itself?
Ricky Kottenstette: We have a great partnership with the Isleta Casino Resort on the Isleta Pueblo, which is here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On June 1st it will be the Hard Rock Casino and Resort in Albuquerque. We are really excited about that partnership. They are interested in their other affiliates: the Seminole in Florida to Tulsa to Vegas and possibly take this show on the road. We are going to see how it goes on the first one and treat all the fighters the way that they want to be treated and the way we would like to be treated. We are looking to expand our shows which would be feeders to the big organizations and do some really great things. We are very grateful for the Hard Rock and it’s a treat for the fans that actually get tickets to it because this casino is a high level casino and a great hotel. They are re-doing center bars, pools and the event center. It’s going to be phenomenal.
jacksons.tv: What makes the event unique given its being put on by a fight camp?
Ricky Kottenstette: Well, there could be some pros and cons in some people’s minds that the fight team is putting on the show. To put those things to rest you have to understand that I believe we are the top gym in the world and there are going to be quite a few teams that are going to say different. This is an opportunity for other teams to come in. We are bringing guys in from Colorado, The Phoenix Fight Club in Arizona – undefeated fighter Doug Moore (Phoenix Fight Club) coming to fight one our undefeated fighters, Matt Leyva. We are bringing in Jennifer Berg from our Grudge Affiliate up in Denver. We are bringing in high level fighters from all over the United States and we have them fighting our guys. We are not doing our fighters any favors if we are giving them "gimme" fights and setting them up – a lot of the things people say about being the promoter of your own show. With that being said, we want our guys to succeed on the next level and if we are giving them low level competition and not pushing them to be the best that they can be, then they are not going to take it to the next level. If they do make it to the next level because they have a great record it will look horrible on the back end. We definitely want the best quality, evenly matched fights because it’s the best for our fighters as well.
jacksons.tv: It’s still early but can you describe the fight card?
Ricky Kottenstette: In the main event we have Jennifer Berg fighting our of the Grudge Training Center/Jackson’s MMA in Denver, Colorado fighting local favorite Angelica Chavez from Chavez Martial Arts – both of these fighters are undefeated in MMA. There is really a high demand for lady fights here in Albuquerque and both of these fighters are incredible fighters. The reason it’s a main event is that they are both fantastic fighters and there will be great fireworks. In the Co-Main event, Matt Leyva, who is undefeated at 5-0 and fighting out of Jackson’s/Winkeljohn’s MMA will be taking on Doug Moore out of The Phoenix Fight Club in Arizona. Doug is undefeated at 7-0 and has submitted everyone of his opponents. He has phenomenal jiu-jitsu and trains with Santino DeFranco and a lot those guys in Arizona. The Co and Main events are battles of undefeateds. We also have Julie Kedzie fighting, winner on the Tapout Realty Show and ranked #8 in the world. We also have Isaac Vallie-Flagg a Ultimate Fighter hopeful pretty soon. We have phenomenal amateurs on the card, Angelo Crinzi, Ryan Gomez – a Golden Gloves Level Boxer and incredible state champion wrestler. We are bringing their opponents in from Colorado and Arizona. It’s going to be a great show for the southwest.
jacksons.tv: What event activities do you have coming up?
Ricky Kottenstette: We will be having our press conference on April 27th at the Isleta Casino Show Room Floor at 2:00 pm MST. It will be the first taste of the event and we will have pictures, promos and information on our event web page at http://jacksonsmmaseries.com coming up very soon. Stay tuned to jacksons.tv for the event web site and pre-fight videos leading up to the fights on June 5th, 7:00 pm MST at the Hard Rock Casino and Resort. Tickets will be on sale April 17th on tickets.com, look for that as well. Stay tuned to jacksons.tv for more updates.
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